Signal strength detection for identifying interference with communications controller and controlled devices

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for identifying a source or sources of noise that interferes or potentially interfere with communications between a remote and a receiver. The noise source may be detected through the operation of a noise detector which is integrated as a component of a remote. The remote may be configured to operate in one of two modes. In a first mode, the remote may convey commands inputted by a user from the remote to the receiver. In a second mode the receiver may operate as a noise detector device.

I claim: 
     
       1. A remote control device having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, the remote control device comprising:
 a mode detector configured to detect an input from a user placing the remote control in one of the first mode and the second mode; 
 a signal transceiver configured, while the remote control is placed in the first mode, to transmit user commands to a content receiver over a wireless channel; 
 a noise detection circuit in communication with the signal transceiver, the noise detector circuit being configured to detect and measure an amount of electromagnetic noise in the wireless channel, the noise detection circuit being further configured, when the remote control is placed in the second mode, to output the measured amount of noise; and 
 a first output device in communication with the noise detection circuit, the first output device being configured, when the remote control is placed in the second mode, to receive the measured amount of noise from the noise detection circuit and to output information representing the received measured amount of noise, the first output device being further configured, while the remote control device is placed in the first mode, to output information representing a configuration of the remote control. 
 
     
     
       2. The remote control device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first output device comprises a first light emitting diode; and 
 when the remote control is in the second mode the first light emitting diode blinks at a frequency that corresponds to the received electromagnetic noise, the frequency increases with an increase in the received electromagnetic noise. 
 
     
     
       3. The remote control device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first output device is a tone generator; and 
 when the remote control is placed in the second mode, the tone generator emits sound at a frequency that corresponds to the received electromagnetic noise. 
 
     
     
       4. The remote control device of  claim 1 , wherein the signal transceiver communicates over one of three possible channels. 
     
     
       5. The remote control device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second output device configured to output an indication that a predetermined threshold noise level has been exceeded. 
 
     
     
       6. The remote control device of  claim 5 , wherein the second output device is a second light emitting diode, the second light emitting diode configured to provide a constant illumination when the measured amount of electronic noise exceeds the predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       7. A content receiver having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, the content receiver comprising:
 a mode or configured to detect a user input selecting one of the first mode and the second mode; 
 a signal transceiver configured to, when the content receiver is placed in the first mode, receive wireless signals that convey user commands from a remote control over a first wireless channel; 
 a noise detection circuit in communication with the signal transceiver, the noise detector circuit being configured, when the content receiver is placed in the second mode, to detect and measure an amount of electromagnetic noise in the first wireless channel and to output the measured amount of noise; 
 an output device in communication with the noise detection circuit, the output device being configured, when the content receiver is placed in the second mode, to receive the measured amount of noise from the noise detection circuit and convey information representing the measured amount of noise to the user, the output device being further configured, when the content receiver is placed in the first mode, to output information associated with a program content selected for viewing. 
 
     
     
       8. The content receiver as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a tuner configured to receive a program content from a service provider, the tuner operatively connected to a processor. 
     
     
       9. The content receiver as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the output device is a speaker; and 
 when the content receiver is placed in the second, speaker emits a sound at a frequency that corresponds to the received measured amount of noise, and 
 when the content receiver is placed in the first mode, the speaker output an audio associated with a selected program content. 
 
     
     
       10. The content receiver as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the output device is a display device; 
 when the content receiver is placed in the first mode, the display device displays a program content received through an operation of a tuner; and 
 when the content receiver is placed in the second mode, the display device displays information associated with the measure amount of noise. 
 
     
     
       11. The content receiver as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein:
 the signal transceiver is further configured to communicate with the remote over a plurality of wireless channels; 
 the noise detection circuit is further configured to detect and measure an amount of electromagnetic noise in the each of the plurality of wireless channels and to output the plurality of measured amounts of noise and 
 when the content receiver is placed in the second mode, the display device displays a plurality of visual indications of noise level, each visual indication being associated the measured amount of noise in one of the plurality of wireless channels. 
 
     
     
       12. The content receiver as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the display device is configured to display a threshold noise level. 
     
     
       13. A method of mitigating the effect of interference sources in a communication path between a content receiver and a remote control, the method comprising:
 detecting a mode selection, the mode selection placing the content receiver in one of a first mode and a second mode; 
 when placed in the first mode
 receiving a first transmission from the remote control over a first wireless channel, the first transmission including a user command, and 
 outputting a selected program content to a display device; and 
 
 when placed in the second mode,
 detecting a presence of noise in the first wireless channel, 
 receiving a plurality of second transmissions from the remote control over the first wireless channel, each second transmission including a noise level measured by the remote control at a particular location, and 
 outputting the measured noise level included in each second transmission. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the remote control flashes a light emitting diode at a rate that is proportional to the measured noise level, the rate increases with the an increase in the measured noise level. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 when placed in the second mode, employing at least three of the plurality of second transmissions to triangulate a source of noise. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 when placed in the second mode, transmitting a diagnostic firmware to the remote control over the first wireless communication channel, wherein the remote control executes the diagnostic firmware to measure the noise level. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the communication path between the content receiver and the remote control includes a plurality of wireless channels, and the method further comprises determining the presence of noise of in at least one of the plurality of the wireless channels. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the communication path between the content receiver and the remote control includes a plurality of wireless channels, and the method further comprises determining a presence of noise on each of the plurality of channels. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the communication path between the content receiver and the remote control includes at least three wireless channels, and the method further comprising:
 displaying an indication of a noise level in each of the three wireless channels on a television screen associated with the content receiver. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 13 , wherein outputting each of the measured noise levels includes an indication of an acceptable threshold.